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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
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This has been incredibly helpful. I was so worried about messing up my unemployment eligibility because of my severance. Now I feel confident about filing my claim and know what to expect with the timing.
That's exactly what these discussions are for - helping people navigate these complicated situations. Good luck with your claim!
Agreed! This thread has been a lifesaver. Going to file my claim first thing Monday morning.
I'm in a very similar situation - just got laid off and have a severance package. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring! I was panicking that I'd have to choose between taking the severance or filing for unemployment, but it sounds like I can do both. The timing delay makes sense since they're essentially treating the severance period as if I'm still employed. Going to gather all my paperwork and file my claim this week. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to hear from people who've actually been through this process with Washington ESD!
Welcome to the community! You're absolutely right that this thread has been super helpful - I was in the same boat feeling overwhelmed about how severance would affect my unemployment claim. It's such a relief to know from everyone's experiences (especially hearing from the former ESD employee) that severance doesn't disqualify you, just potentially delays when benefits start. The key seems to be filing right away and being completely honest about all the severance details. Good luck with your claim - sounds like you're well-prepared with all the insights from this discussion!
You've got the right approach! I was in almost the exact same situation a few months ago - 8 weeks severance and totally confused about how it would work with unemployment. This thread really does cover all the key points. Just make sure when you file that you have your severance agreement handy because they'll likely ask for specific details about the payment schedule and terms. The waiting period feels long when you're stressed about finances, but having both the severance and knowing unemployment benefits are coming later really helped me get through the transition. One thing I'd add is to start your job search right away even during the severance period - it shows good faith effort when you do start claiming benefits.
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I'm so sorry you're going through this - 7 weeks in adjudication with potential eviction is absolutely terrifying. I just went through a similar nightmare that lasted 9 weeks, so I completely understand the desperation. A few additional thoughts to add to all the excellent advice already given: When you contact your state rep, ask specifically to speak with their "constituent services" staff - they're usually the ones who handle ESD cases. Also, if you're comfortable sharing, consider posting about your situation on social media and tagging @WAStateESD - sometimes public pressure helps move things along faster. One thing that helped me was keeping a detailed log of every single interaction attempt (date, time, method of contact, reference numbers if any). When I finally got through to someone, having that timeline really helped them understand the severity of the delay. Also, please don't give up on the weekly claim filings - I know it feels pointless when nothing's happening, but once your case gets resolved, you'll get all that back pay. Hang in there, and keep us posted on how the state rep contact goes!
This is all such helpful advice! I'm definitely going to start documenting everything better - I wish I had been keeping a log from the beginning. The social media idea is interesting too, I hadn't thought of that. I'm usually pretty private but at this point I'm willing to try anything. Thank you for the encouragement about not giving up on the weekly filings, it really does feel pointless right now but you're right about the back pay. I'll update everyone once I start making these calls tomorrow. Fingers crossed something works!
I'm really sorry you're dealing with this nightmare - being stuck in adjudication for 7 weeks with rent hanging over your head is absolutely awful. I went through something similar last fall and what finally broke things loose was a combination approach. First, definitely try your state representative like others mentioned - their constituent services teams often have direct lines to ESD supervisors. But also consider reaching out to local news outlets, especially if you have a good story about the impact this is having on your life. I contacted my local TV station's consumer advocacy reporter and they ended up doing a story about ESD delays. Within a week of the story airing, I had three different ESD managers calling me. Also, when you do get through to someone (and you will eventually), ask them to put notes in your file about the urgency due to housing instability. Sometimes that can flag your case for faster processing. One more tip - if you have any documentation about your separation from your job (termination letter, resignation email, etc.), make sure that's uploaded to your account. A lot of adjudications get held up over missing separation documents even when the issue seems unrelated. Keep fighting - the system is broken but persistence through multiple channels usually pays off eventually. We're all rooting for you!
The media approach is brilliant! I never would have thought of that but it makes total sense - public accountability can really light a fire under government agencies. I'm actually in the Seattle area so there should be plenty of local news options to reach out to. Do you remember which reporter you contacted, or have any tips on how to pitch the story to them? I'm not great at that kind of thing but I'm definitely willing to try. And thank you for the tip about the separation documents - I uploaded my termination letter when I first filed but maybe I should double-check that it's still there and visible. This whole thread has given me so much hope and so many concrete steps to take. I really can't thank everyone enough!
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Wow, what a journey! Thanks for sharing all these updates - it's really helpful to see how these adjudication cases actually get resolved. The wage discrepancy issue makes total sense, and I'm glad that Claimyr service worked out for you. I'm dealing with a similar pending situation right now (week 3) and this gives me hope that persistence pays off. Going to check my account again for any wage reporting issues and might try that calling service if I can't get through on my own. Congrats on getting your backpay sorted out!
Definitely keep checking for wage issues - that seems to be one of the most common causes of adjudication delays! Week 3 is still early compared to what some folks here have experienced. The whole process is so stressful when you're waiting for income, but Zainab's story shows there's usually a specific reason that can be resolved once you get the right person on the phone. Good luck getting through to ESD!
Just went through something similar last month! I was stuck in adjudication for 6 weeks and it turned out to be a work search requirement issue - apparently my job search log wasn't detailed enough even though I thought I was doing everything right. The ESD rep told me they needed more specific information about each application (company name, position title, method of contact, etc.). Once I updated my work search documentation properly, my claim was approved within a week. Might be worth double-checking your work search logs if you haven't already - the requirements are pretty strict and they don't always make it clear what level of detail they want.
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To summarize for anyone reading this later: Yes, Washington state employees pay 0.4% of wages into unemployment insurance, up to the annual wage base. This gives you eligibility for benefits if you lose your job through no fault of your own. It's insurance you're paying for, not a government handout.
Perfect summary. Thanks everyone for helping me understand how this system works!
Great thread. I learned a lot too and feel much more informed about what I'm paying for.
This is such valuable information! I've been working in Washington for about 6 months and always wondered what that small deduction was for. It's reassuring to know that the 0.4% we pay actually builds our eligibility for future benefits. Makes me feel more secure knowing there's a safety net that I'm contributing to. Does anyone know if there's a minimum amount of time you need to work before you're eligible to file a claim with Washington ESD?
Charity Cohan
im in the same boat!!! been trying to call for 3 weeks and nothing!! this is my 1st time on unemployment and its been a NIGHTMARE. let me know if u find a way to get thru please!!!!
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Cedric Chung
•Will do! This is my first time too and I had no idea it would be this difficult just to speak to someone. I'll post an update if I manage to get through with any of these suggestions.
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Talia Klein
Just checking back - were you able to get through to ESD? I'm curious if any of the suggestions worked for you.
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Cedric Chung
•I finally got through! I ended up using Claimyr like you suggested and was connected with an agent in about 20 minutes. My issue was that my employer had reported different dates than what I put on my application, which triggered the adjudication. The agent was able to update my file and said my payments should be processed within 48 hours. Such a relief after weeks of stress!
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